After Brett Rogers knocked out Andrei Arlovski on June 6, he met Fedor Emelianenko immediately. They were asked to pose for photos together and in that whirlwind Rogers realized he would one day fight the world’s best heavyweight—he just didn’t think it would be five months later.

Critics and fans have been shocked at Rogers’ assertions about his upcoming bout against the world’s best heavyweight: Emelianenko’s not invincible, Emelianenko hasn’t been hit like he can hit and Emelianenko will lose on Nov. 7.

But nothing seems to be shaking Rogers. Not the fact that Emelianenko is a superior ground fighte, that he has far more experience against far better fighters. In fact, Rogers has a counter for all of it: he’s 40-pounds heavier, hard to take down, and unfazed by main event attention.

“I never think about losing,” said Rogers of his confidence. He doesn’t think about losing because if he does, well, it will come sooner than later.

As it stands, Rogers believes all the pressure is on his oppenent because he has a reputation to uphold as the world’s best heavyweight. “I still feel like a dude off the street going into the cage sometimes,” said Rogers. “I shouldn’t feel like that…It is what it is. This is my career man. This is who I am. This is me now.”

Rogers knows that fighters have a short shelf-life, that he has to take advantage of every opportunity and make the most of it for himself and his family. After all, he escaped the Chicago ghettos and worked round the clock changing tires and training to earn the right to be here, on the verge of fame and wealth he could only imagine a few years ago.

“I just felt I needed to do something good. My grandma had 10 kids man. No superstars, no doctors, no lawyers. See where I’m going with that?” said Rogers. “I’m like man, if anybody’s the chosen one, I’m feeling like I’m the chosen one.”